ALCOAST 375/18 - OCT 2018 SELECTEES FOR THE 2018 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY’S ANNUAL AWARDS

R 311532 OCT 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-12//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N12451//
ALCOAST 375/18
COMDTNOTE 12451
SUBJ:  SELECTEES FOR THE 2018 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY’S ANNUAL AWARDS
1. In May of 2018, nominations were solicited for Coast Guard personnel (civilian and military)
for the 2018 DHS Secretary’s Annual Awards Ceremony in the following categories:
Exceptional Service Award (Gold Medal), Meritorious Service Award (Silver Medal), Award for
Valor, Award for Exemplary Service, Award for Excellence, Unity of Effort Team Award, Unit
Award, Award for Outstanding Achievement in Diversity Management, Award for Volunteer Service,
and Leadership Excellence Awards (Individual and Team). Upon receipt of several outstanding
nominations, the Coast Guard Civilian Awards Review Board reviewed and submitted recommendations
to the Commandant for approval prior to forwarding to DHS for final consideration. On 18 October
2018, DHS released the names of recipients of the 2018 Secretary’s Awards.
2. On behalf of the Commandant, it is my pleasure to announce the following Coast Guard recipients
of these prestigious awards:
   A. Award for Meritorious Service (Silver Medal):
      (1) Mr. John L. Bragaw, Coast Guard Yard, Baltimore, MD
      (2) LCDR Russell S. Hall, COMDT (CG-771), Washington, DC
   B. Award for Exemplary Service:
      (1) Ms. Lori A. Shorthouse, Base Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA
      (2) Ms. Teresa A. Byrd, Coast Guard Yard, Baltimore, MD
   C. Award for Valor:
      (1) AST3 Brendan T. Kiley, Air Station Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay, MA
   D. Award for Excellence:
      (1) USCG Electronic Charts Team:
          a. Mr. John M. Sollosi, COMDT (CG-NAV-2), Washington, DC
          b. LCDR Matthew J. Walter, COMDT (CG-NAV-2), Washington, DC
          c. Mr. Douglas W. Scheffler, COMDT (CG-REG), Washington, DC
          d. Mr. Stephen M. Jones, COMDT (CG-REG), Washington, DC
          e. Ms. Courtney E. Mallon, COMDT (CG-0943), Washington, DC
      (2) CDR David J. Aldous, Coast Guard District Seven, Miami, FL
      (3) USCG Community Services Command – Hurricane Response:
          a. CWO Thomas J. Ettinger, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          b. Ms. Laura E. St. Laurent, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          c. Ms. Kelly L. Wyatt, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          d. Mr. Joseph Calcagni, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          e. Ms. Wintress L. Page, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          f. Ms. Marilyn D. Holloway, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          g. Ms. Vicki M. Miller, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          h. Ms. Joanne Faulkner, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          i. Ms. Terri T. Amory, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          j. Ms. Barbara W. Southall, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          k. Ms. Helen P. Boyser, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          l. Mr. Froilan J. San Diego, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          m. Mr. William D. Aycardi, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          n. Mr. Daniel J. Schneider, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          o. Mr. Nathan C. Tefft, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          p. Ms. Samantha S. Bishop, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          q. Ms. Nicolette Ivanovsky, Community Services Command, Aguadilla, PR
          r. Ms. Sandra Besse,  Community Services Command, Aguadilla, PR
          s. Mr. Michael A. Hartsock, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          t. Mr. George W. Tripp, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
          u. Mr. William Grace, Community Services Command, Clearwater, FL
          v. CDR Jeffrey T. Eldridge, Community Services Command, Chesapeake, VA
   E. Award for Unity of Effort Team:
      (1) Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Logistics Division:
          a. LT Jeffrey C. Jurin, HITRON, Jacksonville, FL
          b. LT Brian W. Seekatz, COMDT (CG-41), Washington, DC
          c. CWO Robert L. Holden, HITRON, Jacksonville, FL
          d. AETC Richard A. Pina, HITRON, Jacksonville, FL
          e. AMTC Travis A. Francisco, HITRON, Jacksonville, FL
          f. AMTC William P. Soltesz, HITRON, Jacksonville, FL
          g. AET1 Ryan H. Lilkendey, HITRON, Jacksonville, FL
          h. AMT1 Michael R. Best, Air Station Sitka, Sitka, AK
          i. AMT2 Hugh T. Dailey, Air Station Detroit, Selfridge ANGB, MI
          j. AMT2 Brandon B. Caskey, HITRON, Jacksonville, FL
      (2) DHS Panama Engagement Team, Panama City, Panama:
          a. Mr. Walter Ortiz, USCG, COMDT (CGIS-HQ), Washington, DC
          b. CDR Kevin S. Hill, USCG, COMDT (CG-2), Washington, DC
          c. Mr. Juan A. Torres, USCG, CGIS Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
          d. Mr. Michael R. Vargas, CBP
          e. Ms. Denise Y. Ruiz-Villalobos, CBP
          f. Mr. Omar A. Maldonado, CBP
          g. Mr. Leandro F. Araujo, CBP
          h. Mr. Emmanuel R. Torres, CBP
          i. Mr. Rafael A. Fairclough, CBP
          j. Mr. Ruben E. Williams, CBP
          k. Mr. Stephen Kleppe, ICE
          l. Mr. Jeffrey M. Schmidt, ICE
          m. Mr. Adrian Macias, ICE
          n. Mr. Robert O. Jimenez, ICE
          o. Mr. Manuel Fajin, ICE
          p. Mr. Eric Arza, ICE
          q. Mr. Edgar I. Castillo, ICE
          r. Ms. Margarita Ortiz, ICE
          s. Mr. Miguel Worthington, ICE
          t. Mr. Jesus Serrano, TSA
          u. Ms. Lisbeth Vigay, TSA
          v. Ms. Vanessa Checa, DHS
          w. Mr. Edward V. Dolan, DHS
      (3) Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, PR
          a. CAPT Keith A. Overstreet
          b. CDR Toby L. Holdridge
          c. LCDR Lawrence E. Tormey
      (4) Border Situational Awareness Kit Team (Nominated by S&T)
          a. Mr. Michael D. Bartels, MSRT, Chesapeake, VA
      (5) Surge Capacity Force Team (Nominated by FEMA)
          a. Mr. Ronald B. Coleman, COMDT (CG-122), Washington, DC
   F. Award for Unit:
      (1) USCG Air Station Houston, Houston, TX:
          a. CDR James W. Spitler
          b. AETC Christopher Musial
          c. AST1 Daniel R. Strange
          d. AET2 Elaina M. Wood
          e. AMT3 Adam L. Rodriguez
      (2) Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Port Arthur, TX:
          a. CAPT Jacqueline M. Twomey
          b. CDR John H. Lovejoy, COMDT (NAVCEN), Alexandria, VA
          c. MKC Robert Esparza, USCGC STURGEON, Port Aransas, TX
          d. Mr. Robert W. Stegall
          e. LT Sarah K. Scheaffer
          f. Mr. Scott K. Whalen
          g. Mr. Douglas G. Hendrix
          h. CDR Loan T. O’Brien, COMDT (CG-7413), Washington, DC
          i. Mr. Byron T. Inagaki
          j. LT Joseph C. Della Rosa
          k. LT Dana W. Grady
          l. CWO Bryant C. Dukes
   G. Diversity Management:
      (1) USCG Team EPIC
          a. SK2 Amad T. Hankins, USCGC WAESCHE, Alameda, CA
          b. ET2 Shango O. Indomitus, USCGC WAESCHE, Alameda, CA
   H. Volunteer Service:
      (1) Ms. Paula J. Loomis, SILC-Norfolk, Norfolk, VA
3. Congratulations to all our Coast Guard recipients. The awards will be presented during the
2018 DHS Secretary’s Award Ceremony on 07 November 2018 at 1400 hours at Constitution Hall,
1776 D Street NW, Washington, DC. Thank you to all the supervisors that took the time to nominate
their personnel.
4. If you have questions regarding individual and team award information, please contact
Ms. Brooke Lawson, COMDT (CG-124) at (252) 489-9860.
5. Ms. Michelle R. Godfrey, Director of Civilian Human Resources, Diversity and Leadership, sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.